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Denver's Leading Dentist for Gum Disease, Root Canals & Implants
The Most Current Science. Published 2025.
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The research on LANAP is not standing still. Two significant studies published in 2025 — both indexed by the National Institutes of Health — continue to confirm what specialists like Dr. Ellis have known for over three decades.
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Published April 2025 · PubMed / NIH
Evaluating Efficacy of LANAP in Treating Periodontitis:
A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Clinical Study
Kaya Dadas F, et al. — Lasers in Medical Science, 2025
HOW LANAP WORKS
Most people assume that treating advanced gum disease means cutting, stitching, and weeks of painful recovery. LANAP — Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure — changed that equation entirely. Dr. Dana Ellis was among the first ten LANAP-certified dentists in the United States, and has since guided thousands of patients through this procedure across more than 35 years of specialized practice. Using a precisely calibrated Nd:YAG laser wavelength, LANAP targets and removes only diseased tissue while leaving every millimeter of healthy gum completely untouched. The laser simultaneously eliminates the bacteria living deep inside periodontal pockets, then uses controlled energy to stimulate the body's own stem cells to begin regenerating lost bone and connective tissue. There is no scalpel. There are no sutures. The laser seals the pocket naturally with a fibrin clot — the same way your body heals a wound from the inside out.
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What makes LANAP uniquely powerful is that it does not just manage gum disease — it actually reverses damage that was previously considered permanent. LANAP is the only laser periodontitis treatment cleared by the U.S. FDA that is clinically proven, based on scientific evidence, to regenerate new gum tissue, periodontal ligament, and bone. That distinction matters because every other laser approach on the market can only slow the disease — LANAP rebuilds what was lost. Clinical studies demonstrate average pocket depth reductions of 2–3mm (case varies), with many pockets resolving completely, and this improvement remains stable long-term when patients maintain regular periodontal care. For patients with complex histories — multiple failing teeth, deep pockets, bone loss across several sites — this is not a minor upgrade over traditional surgery. It is a fundamentally different standard of care.
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The science behind the results is not theoretical. In peer-reviewed histological research, periodontal regeneration with new cementum and new connective tissue attachment was confirmed in LANAP-treated specimens — while control specimens showed only long junctional epithelium with no evidence of new attachment or regeneration whatsoever.
Across the vast majority of clinical trials, LANAP has demonstrated a success rate of 87.9% or above — making it the only laser periodontal treatment validated in both histology studies and human clinical trials. These are not marketing numbers.
These are tissue samples examined under a microscope, confirming that the biology is real, the bone is new, and the attachment is genuine.
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— Margaret, 65, Retired School Principal
— Margaret, 58, Retired School Principal
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I had beautiful teeth my entire life. I was the person at the table who always got compliments on my smile. But underneath the surface, I had been quietly losing bone for years — my gums had pulled back, my pockets were deep, and two of my back teeth were being watched for possible extraction. I had seen other dentists who recommended traditional gum surgery, and I kept putting it off because the recovery sounded impossible for my schedule. When LANAP was explained to me, I was skeptical. A laser doing what a scalpel couldn't? But my case was complicated enough that I felt I had nothing to lose.
The procedure itself was genuinely manageable — I drove myself home afterward. Within two weeks I could feel that something was different, not just in comfort but in the stability of my teeth.
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By my follow-up appointment, the pockets that had measured very small " mm " had reduced significantly, and the teeth that had been flagged for possible loss were holding firm. What moved me most was learning that the bone had actually begun to regenerate — not just stabilize.
After years of slow, invisible destruction that I hadn't even felt, my body was rebuilding. I wish I had not waited so long because of fear of a procedure I was never going to need. LANAP was nothing like what I had imagined traditional gum surgery to be. It was precise, controlled, and the healing felt natural — because it was natural. My gums look healthier now than they did fifteen years ago.
Why Patients Choose Dr. Ellis
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Dr. Ellis has dedicated his career to advanced dental education and lifelong learning. With more than 35 years of clinical experience, he continues to study the latest techniques in gum disease treatment, dental implants, root canal therapy, restorative dentistry, and biologic dental care. His goal is simple: help patients save teeth whenever possible and achieve long-term oral health.
A Biologic &
Whole Health Approach
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Dr. Ellis practices dentistry with a biologic philosophy, considering the connection between oral health and overall wellness. Every treatment plan is personalized to help patients achieve healthy gums, healthy teeth, and lasting results.
— David, 47, Commercial Contractor
I am not someone who goes to the dentist unless something is clearly wrong. And by the time I finally went in, something was very wrong. I had advanced periodontal disease across multiple quadrants, significant bone loss, and pockets measuring deep in the back of my mouth.
My teeth were strong — I had never had a cavity in my life — but my gums had been deteriorating for years without a single warning sign. No pain. No obvious symptoms. Just silent, invisible destruction happening beneath the surface.
My regular dentist was the one who caught it — and was direct with me. Without intervention, I was looking at losing several teeth within a few years. He referred me to Dr. Ellis, and I had no idea what to expect. I had never heard of a gum specialist.
I had never heard of LANAP. I assumed I was walking into a conversation about scalpels, stitches, and weeks off work. Instead, Dr. Ellis explained a laser procedure — no cutting, no sutures, back to normal life the next day. I remember thinking: if this is real, why doesn't everyone know about it? I was skeptical. But I was also out of options, and I was lucky enough to have a dentist who knew exactly where to send me.
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I want to be honest — I was not an easy case. Years of neglect across the entire mouth, complex enough to require two full sessions. But I went back to work the following morning. The soreness was real and manageable. Within a month, my gum tissue had visibly reattached. At my twelve-month follow-up, pocket depths had dropped at every treated site, bleeding on probing was minimal, and my X-rays showed bone regeneration in areas Dr. Ellis had identified as possible. I was someone who had waited far too long. If LANAP worked for my situation, I genuinely believe it can work for almost anyone willing to take it seriously.
Choosing Dr. Ellis was the best decision I made for my health in years.
IS THIS YOUR GUM ?
Call Dr.Ellis
LANAP
What is it ?
Your Gums. Rebuilt. No Surgery.
LANAP stands for Laser-Assisted New Attachment Procedure. In plain terms, it is a way to treat serious gum disease using a tiny laser fiber — about the width of three human hairs — that is gently guided between your tooth and gum. The laser targets only the diseased tissue and harmful bacteria living deep in the pocket, while leaving every bit of healthy gum completely untouched. No cutting. No stitches. No scalpel ever touches your mouth. When it is finished, your body seals the area naturally and begins healing from the inside out.
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What makes LANAP different from anything else available is that it does not just stop gum disease — it actually triggers your body to rebuild what was lost. The laser energy stimulates your own stem cells to regenerate bone and reattach gum tissue to the root of the tooth. That means teeth that were once considered at risk of being lost can become stable again. Most patients return to their normal routine the very next day. For anyone who has been told their gum disease is serious, or who has avoided treatment out of fear, LANAP is the answer that most people never knew existed.